The Education Community of Practice is a trusted resource for individuals, families, educational professionals, and policy makers on how to best meet the educational needs of autistic students in Alberta.

Shane has been working with Autistic individuals and their families for over 25 years. He completed his PhD in Special/Inclusive Education at the University of Alberta specializing in Autistic students’ self-determination and intrinsic motivation in the classroom. Shane has served as a consultant to school districts across Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories for students with severe and complex learning needs. In 2018, he joined The Sinneave Family Foundation where he is currently responsible for design and evaluation of novel services and resources that will address the needs of Autistic Albertans. As a Registered Psychologist, Shane also has a practice that serves individuals with high support needs who live in residential care across Northeastern Alberta.

Lyndon Parakin is the executive director of Autism Calgary Association and the vice president of Autism Society Alberta. Over the last two decades Lyndon has worked with municipal, provincial and federal autism partners. He and his amazing partner are the proud parents of four young adults, his family sharing in the lived experience of neurodiversity and intellectual disability. Lyndon holds degrees in mathematics and computer science and has worked as a software scientist in computer simulation and 3D modeling.

Dr. Chandra Lebenhagen is an education consultant in K-12 schools and a sessional instructor at several Canadian universities, where she teaches graduate courses in inclusive education, autism, and evidence-based practices to support students with disabilities in K-12 settings. Her research focuses on ethics, critical disability, inclusive education, and evidence-based practices to support neurodiverse learners.

Carlene Chrumka is the Chief Executive Officer for Janus Academy, a school dedicated to the education of autistic children. Carlene is a passionate professional who has worked in the non-profit sector for over 30 years. She brings her dedication and a sense of humour to all her endeavours. Carlene’s other accomplishments have included working in fund development, teaching at Mount Royal College and being the Executive Director of Bethany Care Foundation. Carlene has a Master’s in Non-profit Management from the University of San Francisco, a certificate in Conflict Resolution/Mediation and she is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive. Outside of work, Carlene loves to cook and she and her husband share their home with their furry friends.

Emma (she/her) is a proud Autistic/neurodivergent woman and social worker. She lives in northern Alberta with her husband and dog Rosie. Emma completed her Bachelor of Social Work degree at the University of Calgary, dedicating her practicum to learning from research and the lived experiences of other diverse neurodivergent people and exploring ways to help create safer and more inclusive spaces across society. Emma has seven years of experience supporting children and families of all neurotypes within the community and education system. Previously she worked as an educational assistant, an early childhood educator, and a child & youth support worker at a women’s shelter. In addition, Emma also spent time volunteering with Youth Mental Health Canada and was a member of their board of directors. Emma has a deep passion for social work and neurodivergent advocacy, and she is excited to be a part of the Education Community of Practice steering committee.

Valerie Dyck has been the Director of Inclusion for the Fort McMurray Catholic School Division since 2021. She started teaching in 1993 and quickly became interested in the field of inclusion, particularly teaching students with autism. Valerie is a huge proponent of early intervention. She has been a teacher, classroom support teacher, vice-principal and principal with FMCSD.

Valerie was recognized in 2019/20 by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (Council for School Leadership) with the Distinguished Leader award.

Valerie holds a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership and embraces life-long learning!

Shaylene Hobbs is an educator with over a decade of experience in the field of special education. She spent seven years supporting students with disabilities in a high school setting as both a teacher and inclusive advisor. She earned her Master’s in Educational Psychology, specializing in Special Education, in 2018, and has spent the past three years in a leadership role in a rural school division. She currently is the Coordinator of Learning Services overseeing special education supports, systems, and programming for students from Pre-K to Grade 12, across 17 schools.